Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is MEGA MILLIONS®?

MEGA MILLIONS is a multi-state, multi-million dollar jackpot game offered in 45 lottery jurisdictions (including Florida). All MEGA MILLIONS member lotteries contribute a percentage of sales to a shared top-prize pool so jackpots can grow to hundreds of millions of dollars. The game's jackpot starts at $15 million and rolls over until all six numbers are matched. MEGA MILLIONS has nine prize levels with lower-tier prizes ranging from $1 to $1,000,000 – and up to $5 million with Megaplier®.

2. What other lotteries offer MEGA MILLIONS?

MEGA MILLIONS is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a complete list of states that offer MEGA MILLIONS visit www.megamillions.com.

3. Will the revenue generated from Florida ticket sales stay in the state?

As with all other games offered by the Florida Lottery, all profits from MEGA MILLIONS ticket sales in Florida will be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.

4. When did MEGA MILLIONS sales begin in Florida?

MEGA MILLIONS ticket sales in Florida began on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 6:00 a.m. ET.

The largest MEGA MILLIONS jackpot to date was a whopping $656 million for the March 30, 2012, drawing in which there were three jackpot-winning tickets: one in each Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.

7. Who sets the MEGA MILLIONS jackpot and how is it calculated?

Prior to each drawing, the Finance Committee of the MEGA MILLIONS Lotteries shall determine the estimated annuitized jackpot amount to be advertised. The advertised jackpot amount shall be estimated and established based upon sales and the annuity factor established for the drawing.

The prize money allocated from the current MEGA MILLIONS prize pool for the Grand Prize, plus any previous portions of prize money allocated to the Grand Prize category in which no matching tickets were sold will be divided equally among all jackpot prize winners in all participating lotteries. The annuity Grand Prize amount will be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.

65.154% of the prize pool is allocated to the jackpot prize.

8. What is Megaplier?

Megaplier is an add-on feature to MEGA MILLIONS that gives players a chance to win up to $5 million. When players purchase a MEGA MILLIONS ticket, they may add Megaplier for $1 more per play to multiply their non-jackpot winnings by up to five times. All non-jackpot prizes will be multiplied by the Megaplier number, from two to five, that is drawn prior to the MEGA MILLIONS drawing.

9. Where can I view the MEGA MILLIONS drawings?

You may view the MEGA MILLIONS drawings on official Florida Lottery TV carrier stations in major markets throughout Florida. Viewing times will vary by station.

MEGA MILLIONS winning numbers will be available on this website, at Florida Lottery retailers statewide, and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY. Also, you may register on this website to receive MEGA MILLIONS winning numbers and other Lottery information by email or text message.

10. How do you play MEGA MILLIONS?

At any Florida Lottery retail location, you can either mark your selections on a MEGA MILLIONS playslip or tell the retailer the numbers you wish to play. On the playslip, select five numbers from 1 to 75 in the upper play area and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 15 in the lower play area. You may Quick Pick some or all of your numbers by marking the QP box in the upper and/or the lower play areas of the playslip. Make your selections carefully, because MEGA MILLIONS TICKETS CANNOT BE CANCELLED.

11. How do you play Megaplier?

Simply mark the Megaplier box located on the left side of the MEGA MILLIONS playslip. Megaplier will apply to all panels and Quick Pick boxes you have marked on the playslip. Megaplier will add $1 more per play, so check your selections carefully before giving the playslip to the retailer. If you tell the retailer your MEGA MILLIONS selections, make sure to ask for Megaplier.

12. How will I know if my MEGA MILLIONS ticket includes Megaplier?

MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier tickets will display "MEGAPLIER YES" and MEGA MILLIONS tickets with no Megaplier will display "MEGAPLIER NO."

13. Can I advance play MEGA MILLIONS? If so, how many draws?

Yes, you may advance play MEGA MILLIONS for up to 26 consecutive draws (3 months). If you select Megaplier, it will apply to all drawings.

14. How late can I purchase a MEGA MILLIONS ticket on a draw night?

On draw nights, you will be able to purchase MEGA MILLIONS tickets until game sales close at 10:00 p.m. ET. Mega Millions requires adequate time to ensure that the draw data has been securely received from all 45 member lotteries before the MEGA MILLIONS drawing is held at 11:00 p.m. ET in Atlanta, GA.

There will be a 5-minute sales break between 10:00 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. ET on the night of the MEGA MILLIONS drawings, and sales after 10:05 p.m. ET will be for the next draw.

15. Will my MEGA MILLIONS playslip from another state work in Florida?

No, all MEGA MILLIONS states use different playslips that work exclusively on their gaming systems.

16. On the MEGA MILLIONS ticket, how is it possible to have the same number twice on one line?

Since you select five numbers from 1 through 75 and one Mega Ball number from 1 through 15, it is possible to repeat a number for your Mega Ball number. The letters "MB" will indicate the Mega Ball number on your ticket. MEGA MILLIONS numbers are drawn from two separate sets of balls in which five white balls and one gold Mega Ball are selected at random.

17. Can I purchase Florida MEGA MILLIONS tickets through the Internet or by mail if I live out of the state/country?

No. Florida MEGA MILLIONS tickets may only be purchased from the Florida Lottery through terminals at authorized Florida Lottery retailers. Although MEGA MILLIONS is sold nationally, each state can only sell MEGA MILLIONS within their state.

18. How do you win MEGA MILLIONS?

During the MEGA MILLIONS drawing, five white balls (numbered 1 through 75) and one gold Mega Ball (numbered 1 through 15) are randomly selected. Players win the jackpot by matching, in any order, the five numbers drawn from the first set of balls and the Mega Ball drawn from the second set.

Players win other great MEGA MILLIONS prizes, ranging from $1 to $1,000,000, by matching non-jackpot winning combinations. Players who add Megaplier to their purchase, and match a non-jackpot winning combination, will multiply their winnings.

19. What are the odds of winning a MEGA MILLIONS prize or the MEGA MILLIONS jackpot?

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 14.71 and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 258,890,850.

20. If the gold Mega Ball number is drawn from a set of 15, why are the odds of matching only the Mega Ball number not 1 in 15?

MEGA MILLIONS numbers are drawn from two sets of numbers, so the odds of winning are calculated by combining the odds for both sets of numbers for all prize levels. The odds for the ninth prize level (for matching just the Mega Ball) are calculated by combining the odds of selecting the Mega Ball and the odds of not selecting any of the five numbers from the first set of numbers drawn.

21. Are MEGA MILLIONS prizes shared?

MEGA MILLIONS jackpots are shared among all jackpot winners in all MEGA MILLIONS states. All other prize levels are set prizes.

22. How much can I win with Megaplier?

All non-jackpot prizes are multiplied two to five times higher than the base game, depending upon the number drawn in the Megaplier drawing. See chart below for all Megaplier prize payouts.

MEGA MILLIONS®$1 per playMEGAPLIER®$1 more per play

Match

Odds

Prize

x2

x3

x4

x5

Overall odds 1:14.71

+

1:258,890,850

*$15 Million

-

-

-

-

1:18,492,203.57

$1 Million

$2 Million

$3 Million

$4 Million

$5 Million

+

1:739,688.14

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

1:52,834.87

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

+

1:10,720.12

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

1:765.75

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

+

1:472.95

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

+

1:56.47

$2

$4

$6

$8

$10

1:21.39

$1

$2

$3

$4

$5

*$15 Million starting jackpots.

23. Are the million dollar prizes paid in cash or as an annuity?

All MEGA MILLIONS prizes, excluding the jackpot, will be a one-time cash payment less applicable taxes. Jackpot winners may elect to receive their winning in a one-time cash payment or 30 graduated annual installments.

24. Can I claim a Florida MEGA MILLIONS winning ticket in another MEGA MILLIONS state?

No. All prizes must be claimed in the state where the winning ticket was sold.

25. When do Florida MEGA MILLIONS tickets expire?

Florida MEGA MILLIONS tickets expire 180 days from the winning draw date, just like all other Terminal games offered by the Florida Lottery.

26. Does the MEGA MILLIONS jackpot have a cash option?

Yes. Jackpot winners may choose to receive their portion of a jackpot prize as an annuity payment or a one-time Cash Option. Jackpot prizes must be claimed within the first 60 days after the winning draw to receive the Cash Option.

The annuity prize will be paid in 30 graduated annual installments, each less applicable withholding taxes. The initial payment shall be paid upon completion of internal validation procedures. The subsequent twenty-nine payments shall be paid annually to coincide with the month of the Federal auction date at which the bonds were purchased to fund the annuity. All such payments shall be made within seven days of the anniversary of the annual auction date. MUSL shall purchase securities through a competitive purchase with a minimum of three primary brokerage firms of its choice.

27. How long will it take to get my MEGA MILLIONS jackpot prize payment?

MUSL requires two weeks to receive wire transfers of funds from all 45 MEGA MILLIONS members, so the earliest you may receive your MEGA MILLIONS jackpot prize is on the 15th day after the winning draw date.

28. What happens to the money if a MEGA MILLIONS jackpot ticket is won in Florida but is not claimed?

At the end of the winning state's claim period (180 days in Florida), the funds to pay a jackpot that goes unclaimed will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series.

In Florida, 80 percent of all unclaimed jackpot prizes are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.